Grazing management of dry grasslands in the Český kras/Bohemian Karst - conservation and restoration of species rich communities
Abstract
Sheep and goat grazing traditionally belongs to the settled landscape of the Bohemian Karst and many plant and animal species are bound to the open pasture landscape. In the 20th century, these species became threatened by massive pasture abandonment and woody vegetation expansion, both natural succession and artificial plantations.
Several former pastures with most valuable and protected dry grasslands communities were chosen in 2005 and 2006 for the reintroduction of grazing management. Since the beginning, the impact of grazing on vegetation and individual plant species has been monitored on both grazed and control plots.
Monitoring using fixed transects was also carried out for butterflies as a representative group of invertebrates. After seven years, analyses show statistically significant effect of grazing on plant species number and composition.
The results indicate that the implemented grazing management helps to conserve and restore high plant species diversity. Grazing increases heterogeneity, mainly on a small scale, where more species are able to survive on 1 m2 due to lowered competition.
Also the development of vegetation on grazed and control plots differs. Typical steppe species (short, tussock or rosette plants or annuals) are abundant on grazed plots, whereas control plots are preferred by grasses and taller, more competitive species.